Halloween chocolate spider cakes recipe

Creepy crawly and delicious!

These cute little chocolate spider cakes were super easy with the Spiders and Webs Silicone Pan from Wilton. I have seen silicone pans in stores, but never used them before now.

I had to look up how to use them on their website, there is a handy FAQ sheet available. I learned you must thoroughly spray each and ever corner of the designs, otherwise the cake will stick. When you pour the batter in, tap the pan on the counter to loosen any bubbles and make sure it drips into every corner. Using the silicone pan actually added about seven extra minutes to my cooking time. Plus you must wait until the pan is completely cooled before popping out the cakes, otherwise they may stick.

Dark chocolate spider cakes
2 cups boiling water
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 3/4 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
2 1/4 sugar
4 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
decorated with white and orange cookie icing

This recipe makes 36 spider cakes, feel free to halve the recipe if you don't have that many ghosts and goblins to treat.

Boil the water in the microwave and add the cocoa powder. Stir to combine and set aside. Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

In another bowl, cream together butter and sugar until it is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs and add the vanilla. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture, then a 1/3 of the chocolate mixture, alternating until they are all added in. Mix for 8 minutes with a hand mixer, 4 minutes with a stand mixer.

Use a large scoop to add the batter into each spider cavity. This will ensure each cake with be the same size, and cook evenly. Remember to tap the pan on the counter. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. Let cool completely before popping out of the pan and starting a new batch. It helps the process go much faster if you have two pans.

When the cakes are completely cool, you may decorate them. I used cookie icing from Wilton (see link above). It is available online and in your grocery store in the specialty baking aisles in crafts. The Elmer's Glue-like bottle makes decorating easy! I love them, I wish I had them in every rainbow color!

To decorate mine, I followed the lines left on the cakes by the pan (see slide show). Using the icing this way ensures the cakes will be an excellent treat for little hands at a Halloween party, without getting icing everywhere!

I hope you have a spooktacular Halloween this year! Check back each day in October, I will be reviewing and sharing all kinds of Halloween goodies. Bookmark my Easy Meals Examiner index page, it will be updated with each new recipe daily. Email me with any fun ideas you would like to share or know more about!